The colleges with very high standards skim off the best high school graduates.
State and local governments skim tax money off the company's profits.
New idioms dictionary. 2014.
skim off — (something) to take something valuable. The colleges with very high standards skim off the best high school graduates. State and local governments skim tax money off the company s profits. Etymology: based on the literal meaning of skim off (= to … New idioms dictionary
skim off — verb 1. remove from the surface (Freq. 2) skim cream from the surface of milk • Syn: ↑skim, ↑cream off, ↑cream • See Also: ↑cream off (for: ↑ … Useful english dictionary
skim off — PHRASAL VERB If someone skims off the best part of something, or money which belongs to other people, they take it for themselves. [V n P n] He has been accused of skimming the cream off the economy... [V P n (not pron)] Rich Italian clubs such… … English dictionary
skim — [skım] v past tense and past participle skimmed present participle skimming [Date: 1400 1500; Origin: Perhaps from scum to remove scum (14 19 centuries), from scum (noun)] 1.) [T] to remove something from the surface of a liquid, especially… … Dictionary of contemporary English
skim — [ skım ] verb 1. ) intransitive or transitive to move quickly over the surface of something, or to make something do this: We stood on the bridge watching swallows skimming the water. skim across/over: Water skiers skimmed across the bay. a )… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
skim something off — ˌskim sth/sbˈoff derived to take for yourself the best part of sth, often in an unfair way • Private companies should not be allowed to skim off profitable sectors of the postal service. Main entry: ↑skimderived … Useful english dictionary
skim — [[t]skɪ̱m[/t]] skims, skimming, skimmed 1) VERB If you skim something from the surface of a liquid, you remove it. [V n off/from n] Rough seas today prevented specially equipped ships from skimming oil off the water s surface... [V n with off]… … English dictionary
skim — UK [skɪm] / US verb Word forms skim : present tense I/you/we/they skim he/she/it skims present participle skimming past tense skimmed past participle skimmed 1) [transitive] to remove a substance that is floating on the surface of a liquid skim… … English dictionary
skim — /skim/, v., skimmed, skimming, n. v.t. 1. to take up or remove (floating matter) from the surface of a liquid, as with a spoon or ladle: to skim the cream from milk. 2. to clear (liquid) thus: to skim milk. 3. to move or glide lightly over or… … Universalium
skim — [[t]skɪm[/t]] v. skimmed, skim•ming, n. 1) to take up or remove (floating matter) from the surface of a liquid, as with a spoon or ladle 2) to clear (liquid) thus: to skim milk[/ex] 3) to move or glide lightly over or along (a surface, as of… … From formal English to slang
